The Notre Dame SPARC Project is a program designed to support effective communication and strengthen relationships in families that include a child with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD). In particular, the SPARC project is geared toward supporting parents and typically developing adolescent siblings of individuals with IDD by promoting effective communication and conflict resolution between couples and also between parents and their typically developing children. The goal of the study is to evaluate how best to support parents and typically developing siblings of individuals with IDD by improving communication and strengthening family relationships.

The Notre Dame SPARC Project is actively recruiting participants in South Bend and Fort Wayne, IN and the surrounding areas. Eligible participants are families that include fathers and mothers who are married or living together in the same home with a typically developing child between the ages of 11 and 17 years old, and a child of any age who has been diagnosed with any type of intellectual or developmental disability. Participating families will be invited to visit one of our centers (in South Bend or Fort Wayne) several times over the course of one year. Families could earn up to $310 for their participation over the course of one year, and free childcare is provided at all visits by team members who are trained to work with individuals with IDD.

Interested families can call Jessica at 574-631-6009 or email us at ndsparc@nd.edu for more information.